Free-throw shooting lifts Susquehanna past Juniata men's hoops in OT

(Posted December 4, 2010)

SELINSGROVE, Pa. -- Neither Juniata College nor Susquehanna University shot free throws particularly well during their Landmark Conference men's basketball clash on Saturday night, but the host Crusaders hit them when they needed them most to post a 78-74 overtime win over the Eagles at Houts Gymnasium.

Susquehanna was 9-of-12 at the stripe in the overtime period, after shooting 60.8 percent (14-of-23) at the free-throw line in regulation. Juniata was an even 60.0 percent (12-of-20) at the line over the entire game.

Five Juniata (3-4, 0-1 Landmark) players scored in double figures, led by junior forward Dan Sekulski's (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) with 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting from the field. Sekulski also dished out six assists. Guard Alex Raymond (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Altoona Area) had 14 points with five assists, while freshman Brian Scholly (State College, Pa./State College Area) had 12 points with a team-high eight rebounds.

Raymond was 7-of-8 on foul shots, including a pair of free throws with just under two-and-a-half minutes remaining to give Juniata a two-point lead. Susquehanna's Harley Sellinger hit a jumper with 2:00 showing on the clock to tie the game at 59-59. In a game that offered 11 ties and 14 lead changes in regulation, that left plenty of time for Juniata to regain the lead.

Thanks to a pair of Susquehanna turnovers, Juniata got three attempts at the game-winning bucket but missed on all three. Defensively, the Eagles kept the Crusaders from getting away a single shot over the final two minutes.

In overtime, Juniata picked up early 3-pointers from both Sekulski and Jeremy Hays (McMechen, W.Va./John Marshall). A Sellinger jumper with 1:25 remaining in OT gave the Crusaders a 71-67 lead, and Juniata began fouling to try and overtake Susquehanna.

The Crusaders hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute to keep the Eagles at bay and preserve the win.

Senior Bruce Knowles (Duncannon, Pa./Susquenita) rounded out the scorers in double-digits with 10 points to go with seven boards, while Hays came off the bench to score 11 points and make three steals.

Susquehanna (2-5, 1-0 Landmark) had four players score 10-or-more, led by reserve Rob Estep with 18 off the bench. J.T. Wilson paced the starters with 17 points, including a 7-of-10 mark from the free-throw line, and Harley Sellinger with 16.

Susquehanna outrebounded Juniata 39-35, but the Eagles held a 13 to 9 advantage on the offensive glass. The Eagles were unable to parlay that into an advantage, as Susquehanna had 14 second-chance points to Juniata's 13.

Juniata returns home for its next contest, as it hosts Lycoming College on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Sports + Recreation Center.